131: Walking alone in the dark, that's the only pass!

Ten minutes later.

Inside a black commercial van near the shopping mall.

This was the temporary command center of the Dragon Shield Bureau.

Su Wanqing pushed the door open.

Inside the van, only Zhou Weiguo was present.

He was looking at the real-time footage displayed on the screen in front of him.

"Director Zhou."

"Mm, sit."

Zhou Weiguo pointed to the seat beside him.

Su Wanqing sat down, wasting no words and getting straight to the point.

"The operation was largely successful. Seventeen members of the Apocalypse Society were apprehended, and we suffered no casualties."

"The only unexpected incident was a Rank C Executor who was rescued by an Apocalypse Society reservist during the battle."

Zhou Weiguo picked up his teacup, blew on the hot liquid, his face showing no particular expression.

"What about the information on that reservist?"

"According to eyewitness descriptions, he Awakened a strength-based ability, Rank E, with no other distinguishing features," Su Wanqing replied flawlessly. "I've already had the intelligence team cross-reference the database, but there are no results yet."

"Mm."

Zhou Weiguo nodded, not surprised by this outcome.

He put down his teacup and pressed a button inside the van.

"Zzz—"

A shielding force field enveloped the entire vehicle.

"Now, you can speak," Zhou Weiguo looked at her.

Su Wanqing composed herself.

She entered a set of coordinates into the computer.

"Codename 'Electric Eel' has successfully disengaged."

"These are the coordinates he left behind."

On the screen, a red dot blinked at a certain location within Jiangcheng's underground pipeline network.

"He successfully rescued that Executor, so he should have gained initial trust."

Zhou Weiguo smiled.

"This kid, he really has something."

"It wasn't in vain that I invested so much."

Su Wanqing's brows, however, furrowed slightly.

"Director Zhou, I understand the importance of the mission, but is this really worth it?"

Her voice carried both confusion and worry, "Lin Yuan's talent... is a trump card capable of changing the future of the war."

"Sending him on such a perilous undercover mission, if it fails, the loss would be unbearable for us."

"Do you think I want to throw him into a wolf's den?" Zhou Weiguo's voice deepened. "Wanqing, look at our current situation."

"The rifts are increasing, the enemies are getting stronger, and some dirty, dangerous work always needs to be done."

He paused, his gaze falling on the red dot on the screen, his tone softening slightly: "That kid constantly talks about retiring and getting a raise, but I know what kind of person he is. When the country is in trouble, he won't truly stand by and do nothing."

"What we can do is support him from behind, providing him with all the assistance we can."

"Ensuring all his efforts and sacrifices receive their due reward. That's enough."

Zhou Weiguo looked up, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Besides, do you really think he's so easy to get into trouble? That kid is not as simple as we think."

Su Wanqing fell silent.

Director Zhou's logic was impeccable, but rational agreement couldn't suppress her emotional worry.

Just thinking about the dangerous situation Lin Yuan was currently in, her heart involuntarily tightened.

"Don't worry," Zhou Weiguo saw through her concern. "I've already granted him the highest-level emergency rescue channel."

"Once his life is in danger, nearby Dragon Shield Bureau forces will assist him at all costs."

"Of course," Zhou Weiguo's tone became serious again, "I hope this channel is never used."

"The most taboo thing in an infiltration mission is exposure."

"Understand?"

"Understood."

Su Wanqing's voice was a bit dry.

This meant that from this moment on, Lin Yuan would walk alone in the darkness.

The Dragon Shield Bureau would not only provide him with no overt assistance.

But even, if necessary, would "pursue" and "attack" him.

Everything was to make his identity more convincing.

"Alright, this matter ends here."

Zhou Weiguo deactivated the shielding force field.

"The next steps will follow normal procedures."

"Interrogate the captives and dig deeper into other Apocalypse Society strongholds in Jiangcheng."

"We've set up such a big operation; we can't just catch a few small fish."

"Yes."

...Jiangcheng, underground.

Lin Yuan supported Night Crow, moving through the pipelines.

"Cough... cough cough..."

Night Crow's body was heavy, most of his weight pressing on Lin Yuan.

This guy looks thin, why is he so heavy?

Lin Yuan grumbled inwardly.

He should have known better than to save him; just bringing back a corpse might have earned him more credit.

"Sir, where... are we going?" Lin Yuan asked curiously.

"Shut up."

Night Crow's voice was still weak.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

"Yes... yes!" Lin Yuan fell silent, looking startled.

But he was calculating in his mind.

This old guy is quite vigilant.

It seems getting information from him won't be easy.

The two walked in silence for a while longer.

Night Crow regained some strength and began to actively guide the way.

"Ahead, turn left."

"See that red valve? Enter through the maintenance passage next to it."

Lin Yuan followed his instructions.

Electromagnetic Induction had already scanned the surrounding environment thoroughly.

Another fork in the road.

Night Crow stopped.

He leaned on Lin Yuan, panting, and pulled out a black communicator from hisHuai, pressing it a few times.

"Beep, beep beep."

The communicator emitted a few soft beeps.

Soon, at the end of the passage ahead, a door disguised as a wall opened.

Behind the door stood two fully armed guards.

They saw Night Crow and stood at attention, saluting.

"Lord Night Crow!"

"Mm." Night Crow nodded, signaling Lin Yuan to help him inside.

Passing through the door, the scene ahead suddenly opened up.

This was an abandoned subway platform!

The platform had been completely transformed, with various instruments everywhere.

Dozens of Apocalypse Society members in uniform were busy at their respective posts.

"Good heavens."

Lin Yuan was secretly astonished.

This must be one of the Apocalypse Society's true lairs in Jiangcheng.

"Take us to the medical room," Night Crow instructed the two guards, then pointed to Lin Yuan, "You, come with me."

"Yes!"

Lin Yuan supported Night Crow, passing through the crowd.

Everyone who saw Night Crow stopped their work and saluted respectfully.

It seems this "Night Crow" holds a higher position than he imagined.

Lin Yuan calculated while discreetly observing his surroundings.

He looked towards the main control room not far away.

Countless cables extended from there, connecting to the entire base's energy and network.

The opportunity has come.

"Sir, please be careful."

Lin Yuan "stumbled," his body swaying towards the control room.

He took the opportunity to reach out and press his hand against the outer wall of the control room, barely "steadying himself."

"I... I'm sorry, Sir! I..."

"Useless," Night Crow cursed impatiently, but didn't think much of it.

Lin Yuan quickly stood upright, lowering his head, looking terrified as if he had made a mistake.

Done.

Another set of coordinates, obtained.

Old Zhou, this is intelligence delivered at the risk of my life; the bonus better not be shortchanged.

Night Crow led Lin Yuan to an office.

"Lord Tianshu, Night Crow requests an audience."

"Come in," a voice came from inside the door.

The door opened.

Inside the office, a man wearing a silver mask stood with his back to them, looking at a map of Jiangcheng on the wall.

The silver-masked man turned around, saw Night Crow's disheveled appearance, and said:

"Night Crow, give me an explanation."

"Lord Tianshu, the mission failed," Night Crow's voice carried unwillingness. "We fell into an ambush by the Dragon Shield Bureau."

He briefly recounted everything that happened at Wanda Plaza.

Tianshu's face grew darker and darker.

"Useless."

He slammed the table, "A simple cleanup mission, and so many people were lost."

"Lord Tianshu, the responsibility for this failure lies with me," Night Crow knelt. "I am willing to accept any punishment."

"Punishment will naturally come," Tianshu walked up to him, looking down at him. "However, that you're still alive is a blessing in disguise."

Tianshu's gaze then fell on Lin Yuan, who was behind Night Crow.

"Is he... the reservist you mentioned?"

"Yes, Sir," Night Crow nodded. He looked at Lin Yuan, with appreciation in his eyes. "His name is A Li. At the most critical moment, he risked his life to save me."

"Oh?"

Tianshu's gaze rested on Lin Yuan.

He walked in front of Lin Yuan, scrutinizing him.

Lin Yuan lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Raise your head," Tianshu's voice carried authority.

Lin Yuan "trembled" and slowly raised his head.

On his face was a perfectly calibrated mix of awe and fanaticism.

"You, why did you save him?" Tianshu asked.

"Because..." Lin Yuan's voice trembled, "Because Lord Night Crow is a pillar of the organization! He is a spark of the new world!"

"I... I couldn't just watch him fall into the hands of those old world lackeys!"

"For Apocalypse! I am willing to offer everything!"

He shouted the familiar slogan.

This "heartfelt" confession softened Tianshu's gaze a bit.

He nodded.

"Very good."

"Your loyalty has been seen by the organization."

Tianshu turned and said to Night Crow: "Night Crow, although your mission failed this time, bringing back such a loyal warrior for the organization can be considered a meritorious deed that offsets your fault."

He looked at Lin Yuan again, his voice carrying the scrutiny of a superior.

"A Li."

"Here!" Lin Yuan straightened his back.

"Your bravery and loyalty deserve reward."

Tianshu slowly said: "To enable you to serve the organization better, I have decided to bestow upon you a... high-Rank purification."

High-Rank purification?

Lin Yuan's heart sank.

This didn't sound like a good thing.

"What... what is that?" Lin Yuan asked in a "curious" tone.

Tianshu's voice was full of temptation.

"It's a shortcut that will allow you to ascend in one step!"

"We will baptize you with high concentrations of 'abyssal spores'!"

Tianshu's voice was full of majesty.

"As long as you can withstand this grace, your power will undergo earth-shattering changes!"

"You will directly bypass the reservist and ordinary believer stages, becoming a true core member of the organization!"

After he finished speaking, both Tianshu and Night Crow's gazes fell on Lin Yuan, awaiting his reaction.

Lin Yuan's heart sank.

High concentrations of abyssal spores?

This wasn't a reward; it was murder!

These madmen didn't even bother to give him a "choice"; they directly treated him as an experimental subject!

But his face flushed red, his eyes gleaming.

"I..."

Lin Yuan knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse.

"Thank you, organization! Thank you, Lord Tianshu!"

"I am willing to dedicate everything for Apocalypse!"